zOwie Omega Discussion Forum

: Actually, the "excessive slowing
: down" started after a local shop
: (selling Omega and other watches) serviced
: my watch. This is one reason why I'm
: somewhat hesitant to having the procedure
: repeated.

I can see why you are hesitant to go back to a local shop now. I probably would be too.

: The case shows 30+ years of constant (light)
: use - that doesn't bother me. The gold
: plating is now pretty thin in some places -
: I don't know whether they can make it look
: "like new".

You would be surprised. In some circumstances, they will put the movement in a new old stock case (if they have any left). Someone sent a 1970s PloProf into Bienne for refurbishment and they replaced just about everything on it but the movement. I think his story was on the Dive Watch Forum at equationoftime.com

: "A good, local watchmaker" - how can
: I know? The shop where I bought my watch
: went out of business 15+ years ago.

I've gone on credentials, recommendations, and age. :) I think it is alot like a physician; I'd rather have someone older and with a degree from a major medical university, than someone just out of residency. In my area, one of the authorized Omega dealers has a certified Omega technician on staff with more than a decade of experience. He did a great job on an vintage 1962 Seamaster of mine, and the cost was very reasonable.

I would suggest asking for recommendations of a watchmaker in your area on the various watch groups (timezone.com, watchussek.com, this one) and see if anyone knows someone.

Good luck, and I hope you get it working. Those old Constellations are nice watches.